Updated (August, 2010): Compare the Canon PowerShot S95 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

Canon PowerShot S90

67

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S90

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.0
Size
Really small
Compact 100x58x30 mm
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
Thickness
Thin
1.2"
Weight
Light-weight
198 g
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

56

Reasons to buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

Size
Really small
Compact 98x57x23 mm
Thickness
Thin
0.9"
Weight
Light-weight
167 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon S90

Aperture Much wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/3.3
Help
At its widest zoom, the S90's lens captures much more light (1.4 f-stops)
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 2s
Help
7.5x longer exposures
Canon PowerShot S90 Learn more about
the Canon S90

Advantages of the Sony DSC-W290

Size Significantly smaller 98x57x23 mm vs 100x58x30 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video
Thickness Significantly thinner 0.9" vs 1.2"
Help
Around 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 167 g vs 198 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Zoom Slightly more zoom 5x vs 3.8x
Help
Around 80% more zoom
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 1.8 fps vs 0.9 fps
Help
2x faster continuous shooting
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-W290
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S90 Canon PowerShot S90
67 vs 56
Explain scores
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S90. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a compact.

advice

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2
votes
by Felica-Tortorici last month
Canon T3 vs Sony DSC-W290

I'm a relative beginner, I bought an SLR several years ago, then my first digital point and shoot ...

3 people recommend the Sony DSC-W290:

"I would agree with what Phil said, save your money and use the W290 for this trip, and perhaps buy..."

"If you already have the Cyber-shot DSC-W290 then I'd suggest just sticking with it. Presumably, yo..."

One person recommends the Canon T3:

" i recommend the T3. Despite it being heavier and bigger, you want to get the best quality pictur..."

0
votes
by daisymanhn 12 hours ago
Canon S100 vs Canon S90

I have used the ELPH1000 with great satisfaction and want to upgrade without losing familiarity ...

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/1600 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
S90:0.9 fps
DSC-W290:1.8 fps
Movie format Poor movies Help
S90:480p @ 30fps
DSC-W290:720p @ 30fps
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S90:3.8x
DSC-W290:5x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant shared competitors found.

Canon PowerShot S90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Higher resolution movies
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Pro digicam

$555

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Weight Significantly heavier
Light sensitivity (boost) Worse boost ISO
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Much larger
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Size Much larger
Sony Cybershot DSC-W570

Sony Cybershot W570

Ultra compact

$135

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350

Ultra compact

$164 - $183

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Size Smaller
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200

Compact

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen size Much smaller screen
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Ultra compact

$285

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Canon PowerShot S90 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290

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